The ruling NDA is seen divided in the Bihar elections. According to sources quoted by Zee News, the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), headed by Chirag Paswan, has decided not to contest in Bihar under Nitish Kumar.
Party sources said that the LJP parliamentary board proposed an alliance with the BJP for the Bihar assembly elections. LJP sources said that the party can contest 143 seats in the 243-member assembly of Bihar and will not field its candidate against BJP candidates.
Earlier, Chirag Paswan met BJP President JP Nadda and also spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah as the BJP leadership wants to maintain the alliance.
Sources said that the LJP is also unhappy with the seats offered to it in the seat-sharing arrangement and is hoping to damage the JD(U)'s electoral prospects.
The BJP central election committee is will meet later this evening to finalise the party's candidates for the three-phase assembly election, which begins from October 28.
Chirag seeks public support for 'Bihar First' vision
Earlier, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) President Chirag Paswan on Saturday sought the 'blessings' of the people for his party's "Bihar First Bihari First" vision paper. This document also indicated that the party could not contest the state assembly elections under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Chirag Paswan had praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a statement and said that all candidates of his party (LJP) will strengthen the hands of the Prime Minister. Describing the vision letter as inspired by Modi, Paswan made it clear that he has a complaint with the JD(U), a party led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
He had posted a message on Twitter with a picture of him with Modi, "I not only hope but also believe that all of you will give me your blessings to make Bihar first and to return the lost identity of Bihar."
